Is sedation dentistry right for your child?

While our experienced and professional team at Smiles Dentistry for Kids strive to offer a comfortable experience for every patient who walks through our doors, we realize that fear or anxiety while visiting the dentist can affect a lot of kids anyway. For patients who need extra comfort and relaxation during their dental visit, we are pleased to offer sedation dentistry.

Does your child feel nervous or stressed about his or her upcoming dental appointment? Well your little one is not alone. In fact, almost 30 percent of the population experiences “dental phobia” when faced with visiting the dentist!

The reasons for patients’ fear of the dentist can be numerous, but are usually due to a traumatic experience during their childhood. This overwhelming anxiety can cause one to avoid modern dental care, resulting in poor oral hygiene and possible mouth-related issues such as gum disease.

Your child can benefit from sedation dentistry if he or she experiences one or more of the following:

* High fear of dental care
* Past traumatic dental experience
* Fear of needles and shots
* Trouble getting numb
* Fear of being numbed
* Sensitive teeth

We invite you to learn more about sedation dentistry on our website. If your child suffers from dental phobia, sedation dentistry may be the answer. Please give us a call at our convenient Overland Park office for more info about sedation dentistry, and we’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.

Ask Dr. Matt: When should my child visit your office?

Thanks for the question. Oral health is a crucial part of your child's overall health, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and our staff at Smiles Dentistry for Kids recommend that your child visits the pediatric dentist by his or her 1st birthday.

If you have any concerns about your child's dental health, please inform Dr. Matt and our team of these concerns. Our team is focused at making you and your child feel welcomed at our Overland Park office.



Your child's first visit with Dr. Matt includes:

* A review of your complete dental and medical history forms.
* Complete X-rays of your teeth and mouth.
* An oral exam - Dr. Hillman will clean and polish your teeth, make sure your teeth and gums are healthy, and check for any cavities or early signs of tooth decay.

Regular recare (checkup) appointments typically take 20 to 40 minutes. Patients are seen by appointment only.

We are excited and look forward to meeting you and your child at their initial appointment. Dr. Matt's goal is to build a relationship with you and your child in a comfortable environment that promotes good oral health care.

Give us a call at (913) 871-1170, and our friendly office staff will be ready to help you schedule an appointment.

Gummy Tummy? From Dr. Matt

Dr. Matt Hillman and our staff at Smiles Dentistry for Kids know the rumors going around that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! Dr. Matt and team really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at our convenient Overland Park office.

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing!

Ask Dr. Matt: When is thumb-sucking a cause for concern?

Lots of you have asked Dr. Matt Hillman our staff at Smiles Dentistry for Kids about whether it’s healthy for your kiddos to suck thumbs (or, less frequently, fingers). If you’ve got a thumb-sucker in the house, you are not alone. Research tells us that between 75% and 95% of infants suck their thumbs.

So, is this anything to worry about?

In most cases, no. Sucking is a natural reflex for an infant, and can provide security and contentment as well as relaxation for your little one. It’s a habit that most children grow out of between the ages of 2 and 4.

However, if your child keeps sucking after he’s gotten his permanent teeth, it’s time for Dr. Matt and our team to take a closer look. If your child sucks his thumb aggressively, putting pressure on the inside of his mouth or his teeth, it could cause problems with tooth alignment and proper mouth growth. If you’re worried, give us a call and Dr. Matt will help assess the situation, and provide tips for how to help your child break the habit.

Happy New Year everyone!